Wrench



, ticularlyas may ,be likely t0 @Sull Patented July 17, 1923. j

Uniriml stares Limiti CHARLES J. WITZEL, OF BROKLYN, NEW YORK.

WRENCH. v

Appiicationaied september 2v, 192i. seriai irofaoasia jectthereof being to provide an improved wrench provided with the usual adjustable gripping jaws and having positive means for preventing derangeinent or disturbance of any predetermined adjustment thereof, parfrom the manipulation of the device.` i y A. further object of this invention is to provideV an improved wrench having a shiftable jaw and the usual operating means therefor, such `as an operating screw, and provided with means, such as forexample, a resilient friction device for restricting or retarding the free rotary movement of the screw, thereby tending, to minimize the possibility of inadvertent rderangeinent of the adjustment of the jaws. j

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved wrench having the usual spur gears o'r pinions `for operating the parts, one thereof adapted to be shifted out of mesh with the other, thereby `preventingoperation'of the parts. In the present instance, for accomplishing this purpose,

j, the operating handley is mounted in slidable i invention to providepreferably a duplex supporting sleeve for the operating screw or telescopic 'manner and 'is adapted to vbe shifted tounmeshthe gears. In pursuance of the foregoing, it is also the purpose of this and spaced from the gears, the same having means for locking or retain'inga gear in unmeshed or inoperative position.

A further object of this invention isto provide a wrench having the usualrelatively adjustable jaws and wherein the construction is such that the jaws may be positively adjusted one relatively to the other and independently of the j operating'meclianism thereby to vary the range of movement or travel or the throw thereof. j j

. Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description thereof, referl ence being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisspeciiication, wherein like vreference characters indicate corresponding parts in the several views land wherein Fior. 1 `is a side view partly broken away and partly in section 'illustrating a i form of my invention, and the operating parts in one position; Fig.,2 is a similar view illustrating the operating parts in another position; Fig. 3 is a'detailedperspective view of one of the jaws; Fig. 4f is a In the `preferred form herein shown and described, I have illustrated my invention as applied te a wrench having a movable `detailed perspective view of the duplex sup `porting sleeve; Ifig. 5 is a detailed perspecand ai stationary gripping jaw,but it is ofy 1i course understood that the same may be a-pj plied to any preferred type of wrench,.such as one having simultaneously movable jaws. Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that my improved wrench comprisesy a stationary grippingl jaw 10, having` anr integrally formed rearwardly extending angular shank 11. This shank terminates in ra cylindrical extension or stem 12. Adapted to be mounted upon the stem 12 is a duplex supporting or clamping sleeve 13 having an opening 14 therethrough for slidably receiving the stem `12. The sleeve'` 13 may be secured to the stem as by means of a set screw 17 inserted in the opening 15 of the sleeve and cooperating with an opening 16 formed in the stem.

For the purpose of manipulating the device, an operating handle 18 having its outer surface viuted or otherwise formed is pro vided, the same having a bore 19 adapted to be telescoped to the rear end of the cylindrical stem 12 for predetermined slidable movement relatively thereto. At its inner end the handle`18 carries a spur gear or pinion 2O` preferably formed integrally therewith. This gear ris provided with an annular flange 21, and the same together with the gear20 are provided with internal threads 22 adapted to `cooperate with a threaded shoulder 23 integrally formed from the sleeve 13. The annular flange 21 forms a shoulder over which is secured a washer 24 e-Xtendingbeyond the periphery of the gear.` A spring 19a is inserted in the bore 19vimpinging against the inner `end of the stem 12, the same resiliently. tending to 'maintain the handle 18' and gear 20 in ythe ico position illustrated in Fig. 1. The handle, when shifted forwardly, will compress the spring, the latter thus positively tending to force the parts to operative position.

Mounted for shittable movement upon the angular shank 11 is a movable gripping jaw 25 tapped at 26Ito receive thethreaded end of the screw 2", the latter having a rearwardly extending non-threaded cylin-` drical portion 28. The supporting sleeve 13 is bored at 29 so as to iit over the cylin-V 4drical vportion 28 or" the operative screw 31 and a spur gear 3,3 .or pinion having a` .square bore .is secured .to the portion 31 and held in position by means of a pin 34:.

In order. to restrict or retard .the'normally `free rotary movement oi the operating screw 2,7 and thereby minimize the danger of disturbing a predetermined adjnstment of the gripping jaws, suitable automatic means .in ,the formy .of a resilient frictional .devi'ceais provided for accomplishing `this purpose. `The sleeve 13 is recessed at 35 at right .angles and transversely to the bore 29, and. in assembling the sleeve .and operating screw the spring 36 is Jforce-d into the upper part oi the recess 3.5 so as to'impinge against the annular part 28 of thescrew and` to beheld under predetermined tenl sion `between the same andthe `upper part of the recess. Thus, the spring 3.6 will eX- ert constant frictional pressure upon theoperating screw, and although not preventing l.the rotation and operation of the same, it will tend to restrict and prevent unintentional .operat'ion .of the screw. j i

In the operation of ymy improved wrench, it -will be .read-ily observed that the ,operating parts may be ldisconnected and rendered ineffective at vany .desired time and without dismounting the device, disuniting or Yremoving any of the parts. Assuming that the gripping aws 10 and 25 have been adjusted from the position shown inlig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2 by rotating the handle 18 .and thereby causing the gear 20 to rotate.` the gear 33 together with the operating screw 27, resulting in the shifting of the movablej aw 25 relatively to the stationary jaw 10, the handle. 18 may be shifted lengthwise of the stem 12 toward the duplex sleeve vr1.3 and the [iange 21 quickly threaded upon the threaded pori. tion 23 of the sleeve.

By virtue of `thisoperation the gears 20 and 33 will be disconnected or `immeshed, and as a result, the danger-of deranging or disturbing lthe ad.-

plished merely lay-.removing the set screw 1 justment of the jaws on manipulating the handle 18 will be eliminated-v As will be seen in ,Fig. 2, the operating handle may be firmly screwedl upon i the vthreaded extension 23, thereby rigidly retaining these parts together and forming a rigid manipulating handle. .When the4 devicev is being used `with the adjustment as shown in Fig. 2, the

Vspring 36 is effective to prevent inadvertent or accidental rotationv of the operating screw 27. Whenit'is desired to change the adjustment ot the jaws from the `position shown in, Fig. 2 thehandle 18will'be i'o- .tated to release the same 4from the threaded part 23 and thereupon. shiftedfrearwardly until the gear 20 meshes with the gear 33. f

The washer ,24 acts .as a guide or stop for almmg the gears `and preventing ,excessive rearward shifting of 4the operating handle,

this washer,` as .shown in Fig-1,. abutting against the inner edge of the `gear It will `be-further noted Vthat Ihaverpgrovided `means for adjusting or varying the range of' movement yor the throw of the gripping jaws lOand r25. This' is vaccom- 7 and adjusting'thesame in any one of several apertures 16 formedA inl the stem 12. ln accomplishing this it willbe'seen that upon shitting the supporting sleevel rearsacV wardly or forwardly .all oi: vthe operating Iparts will in like manner beshit'ted simultaneously relatively to the fixed orrstationary jaw lO. Althoughl have described my invention in its ,preferred form, Yit is to be understood that l ,donot limit myself to theV construction herein shown V ,and-kdescribed, but may 4make allchanges coming within .the scope of the appended claims.

l claim as my invention:`

11.. an article .off manufacture, va wrench comprising a pairof gripping jaws, means for .operating the same, `and including vmeans shiftable relatively .to said ,gripping jaws for rendering said. operating means inoperative, .andmeansor shifting said shiitable means. y .j y y. A.

2. ,Asan article of manufacture, a wrench comprising a pair of gripping jawsrotatable means for operating the same, and resilient and means for automatically restricting the normal `rotative movement of said last :means and opera-tive .transverse to the axis-of `rotationlthereof. j y 4 3. As anar'ticgleof manufacture, a wrench comprising apair ...of gripping jaws, :rotatable means for operating. thefsame, and automatic friction means for restricting the normal l.rotative rnov.ement of saidk last means and operative .transverse vto the axis 5. In awreiich the combination of a pair of relatively adjustable gripping jaws, 'operating means therefor including? a pair of cooperating gears, means for shifting one of said gears relatively to tliejother thereby to tainingv the engagement of' said operating means. j i i i i 7. In a wrench the combination of a pair of relatively adjustable gripping jaws, operating means therefor including a ypair of cooperating gears, and Vmeans shiftable relatively to said jaws for disconnecting'said gears. j j j 8. As an article of manufacture, a wrench comprising a pair of relatively adjustable gripping jaws,"ope'rating means therefor and including a pair of cooperating gears, means for disconnecting .said gears, and means for retaining' said gears in such relation and comprising a` normally stationary said gears.

9. As an article of manufacture, a wrench comprising a pair of relatively adjustable grijjiping jaws, operating means therefor and including a pair of cooperating` gears, means comprising al sliiftable handle for shifting one of said gears relatively to the other thereby to unmesh the same, and means for retaining said gears in such relation, said last means comprising a normally stationary member adapted to be connected to one of said unmeshed gears.

l0. As an article of manufacture, a wrench comprisinga pair of relatively adjustable gripping jaws, means for operating the same, and means for varying the range of operative movement of said jaws independently of said operating means, said means comprising a adapted to permit one of said Ajaws and certain of said operating means to be simultaneously adjusted relatively to the other jaw.

ll. As an article of manufacture a wrench comprising a pair of relatively adjustable jaws, an operating screw and-a rearwardly extending shank therefor, a pair cf gears, one thereof carried by said screw, and supporting means for said screw having a part thereof carried by said shank and spaced from a gear to permit shiftable movement thereof.

l2. As an article of manufacture, `a wrench comprising a pair of relatively adinstable jaws, an operating screw therefor,`

a pair of gears, one thereof carried by said' screw, a duplex supporting sleeve adapted iigears. member adapted to be connected to one of releasable element y `wrench kto receive `said screw and normally spaced fromsaidgearsand meansfor shifting one i i.

of said gears relatively to said sleeve. i

13. As an article of manufacture, a

j wrench comprising' a pair of relativelyadf justable jaws, an operatings'crew therefor, a pair`of`gearsf,"one thereof carried'by said screw,y a supporting sleeve adaptedto `re ceive-said screw, and"resilientl means ycarried, by said sleeve 'and' engaging said 4screw for retarding the rotary movement' thereof.

i 14. As an "articley of, manufacture, a" wrench comprising a pair of relativelyfadjustable jaws, an operatingscrew therefor, ai pair ofv gears, one thereof carried by said screw, Ya supporting means -ad'ajitedI to re- `ceivesaid screw, and means'for adjusting said meansrelatively to one of saidjaws.

lfAs an article,` of Vmaiiu'facture,

wrench ycomprisingapair of gripping jaws, one thereof havinga rearwardly; extending shank, a handle slidalbly mounted upon' said` shank,`a gearcarried by saidliandle, an op` eratiiig screw for said jaws, a gear carried thereby and cooperating with said first geai. said handle being shiftable to unmesh said 16. As an article of manufacture, a

. wrench comprising apair of gripping jaws,

one thereof having a rearwardly extending` i. shank, a handle slidably mounted upon said shank, a gear carried by said handle, an op erating screw for said jaws, a geary carried thereby .and cooperating with said yfirst gear, said han(4 le being sliiftable to unmesh said gears, and means for limiting the movement of one of said gears relatively to the other. i

17. As an article of manufacture, a wrench comprising` a pair of gripping jaws,

one thereof having a rearwardly extending shank, aihandle slidablv mounted upon said j shank, a gear carried by said handle, an operating screw for said jaws, a gear carried thereby and cooperating withsaid first gear, said handlebeing shiftable to unmesh said gears, and means `for retaining said gears in unmeshed position comprising cooperating spaced threaded members, onel thereof carried by a gear. j

1S. As an article of manufacture, a

gripping jaws, operating means therefor, and means for rendering said last means iiioperative `and including a slidable handle from certain ofsaid operating means.

19. In a wrench, the combination of a pair of jaws, oneshiftable relatively to the other, means for reciprocating the shiftable` Sinaai@ Shiaabie jaw, sind hindi@ being comprising relatively adjustable ,j

`12or adapted to be connected and disconnected shifta'blev thereby to disconnect said gears, .and resilientinea-ns for lopposingisnch movement'. Y te l d 20.1111 awrench, the :combination of a pair o;t' ,jaWs, one fshiftable relatiwelyto :the

other, means yfor lreciproeatfilig the shifta-ble jaw and Vcom-prising.a threaded spindle, a

gear :carried thereby 'and a gear in `mesh therewith, and a handle connected `With said last gear for rotating it fand thereby to shift the shiidtable jaw, said handlebeing shift ablethereby to disconnect said gears, land means `for 1 holding said shiftable vjaw against" movement. s f p y `2l. ln afwrench, the combination 'of a pair o'f jaws, one vshiftalole relatively :to the other, means-fior reciprocating the shiftable jaw and' cdmprisinga .threaded spindle, Aa gear carried thereby)7 and a `gear in mesh there with, a handle connected with said last gear for `rotating it and therebyto shift the shiftable jaw, said handle being' shiftable thereby to disconnectsaid gears,v1neans for holding said sh-itable jaw against move- Y ment, and meansi'or holding-saidfrst gear vagainst .movement whenV vthe gears are -disconnected.

22. Asl an Wrench comprising :apair ,of relatively "adjustable gripping jaws, operating .means larti/ele of manufacture, a.l

Signed at Brooklyn, vNew r` York, thi-s day 1of September 1921.'

` CHARLES J. Wurzen 

